“Can’t Be an Athlete for the Rest of Your Life”: Skipping Convocation, 24-Year-Old Star Pauses Nursing Career To Focus on Olympics

Chasing your dreams is one of the best things you can do to live a happy life. The journey is never going to be easy, but one’s resilience to keep at it can take them to places. 24-year-old Alexis Ashworth from Canada is a living example of what it takes to follow one’s dream. The weightlifter recently made news for leaving her convocation ceremony and getting back to training with her coach to fulfill her Olympic goal.

On June 5, Alexis Ashworth shelled out time from her busy schedule to appear for an interview with Discover Weyburn. Talking to the news website, she shared about her journey and explained how she aspired to pause her degree in Nursing to become an Olympic weightlifter.

How Alexis Ashworth planned to prepare for Paris Olympics?

In December, Ashworth completed her degree in a nursing program. However, on June 4, when the 2023 graduating class of the University of Saskatchewan was celebrating its convocation day, Ashworth chose to work harder for her dream. The weightlifter returned to training after completing her papers in December.

In the interview with Discover Weyburn, she shared that the Olympic qualifier began in the same month she completed her degree. She had a choice to either start working as a nurse or take a break and fulfill her dream. So, she chose the second option. In her final year, Ashworth balanced the practical lessons in her degree with perfecting her weightlifting techniques.

Furthermore, Ashworth pursued a degree in Nursing so that she could use it later on in her life. The weightlifter explained that someday she may not be able to pursue her sporting career anymore. Then, she can restart as a nurse. She addYou “you can’t be an athlete for the rest of your life, but the timing of it actually was really good for that purpose.”

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Ashworth has been training since before COVID struck the world. In fact, she won a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the women’s 71kg category. Moreover, the Oungre native considers 2024 as her first and last shot at the Olympics because, in 2028, the sport will be dropped from the championship. Hence, Ashworth stood against all odds to make her dream come true. During the interview, the weightlifter also revealed what else would be on her list if her Olympic dream comes true.

Alexis Ashworth shares her plans post-Olympics

The weightlifter shared that if she makes it to the Olympics next year, then that would fulfill “ a major life dream goal.” Achieving it at such a young age would be satisfying to her. Moreover, it would give her the hunger to look at more opportunities ahead. Presently, Ashworth is giving her best by working on her technique and attending training camps and qualifying meets.

She explained, “if I can make the Olympics, then maybe there’s more.” Ashworth shared that many weightlifters train till their mid-30s. So she would embark on more opportunities. However, it all depends on how well her Olympic dream will turn out.

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